Honing machine



y Jun`ev22, 1943. H, J. CALDWELL Houma MACHINE Filed April s, 1941sheets-sheet 1 H. J. CALDWELL HONING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1941 June22, 1943.`

2` sheets-sheet 2 J M K m@ T my Patented June .22, 1943 y orifice HONINGMACHINE Harry J. Caldwell, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barnes Drill Co.,Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application'April 3,

16 Claims.

' The invention relates to honing machines having rotatable andreciprocable abrasive tools of the expansible type and more particularlyto improved power actuated means for expanding the tools of suchmachines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel power actuatedtool expanding means which avoids the use of ilexible, telescoping orsliding power connections to the reciprocatory head carrying the tool ortools to be expanded.

Another object is to provide an improved hone expanding mechanism inwhich the power actuator is stationarily supported on the machine baseand the expanding action thereof is transmitted to the reciprocatoryhoning tool in a novel and advantageous manner.

A further object is to provide a novel hone expanding mechanism which isreadily adjustable to adapt the machine for honing either truecylindrical or tapered work. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodimentillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

`Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a honing Ifiachine embodying thefeatures of the invention, the hydraulic apparatus being showndiagrammatically.

Fig 2 is a side view of a modified form of the hone expanding mechanism.

, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the cooperating stationaryand reciprocating parts of the hone expanding mechanism. in greaterdetail.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of the machine taken in a verticalplane.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary'views of the actuating mechanism showingthe relative movements of the actuator bar in different sections of itspath of movement.

For purposes of illustration the invention has been'shown as installedin a conventional single spindle horizontal honing machine although itis to be understood that it may be used with other types of honingmachines, lapping machines, etc. The particular hone expanding mechanismillustrated is arranged for pressure fluid operation but this ismerelyexemplary and any suitable power means may be employed. It willalso be understood that various changes, modicatic'ns and adaptationsmay be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to Figure l of the drawings, the

1941, serial' No'. essere machine selected to illustratethe inventionccmprises an elongated horizontal base including a main section I0 andan outboard section II arranged in end to end relation. The main basesection is provided with suitable guide bars I2 -(Fig. 4) forming ahorizontal guideway for a reciprocatory head I3 having an upstandinghousing I4 in which a hollow tool spindle I5 is journaled. The spindleis rotatably driven in well known manner by a motor M through speedreduction gearing enclosed in a gear case I6 carried by the head. YFixed to the outer or projecting end of the spindle l5 is an elongatedtubular driver II which carries a conventional expansible andcontractible abrasive tool or hone T.

The outboard base section I I constitutes a work support and is providedwith the usual brackets IB for holding a workpiece W in position to beoperated on by the tool T. A cradle I9 isarranged to support the toolwhen withdrawn from the Work and to guide it into and out of the work. yAs is wellknovvn, the honing tool is traversed axially of the Work byreciprocating the head IIS `on its guideway. In the exemplary machinereciprocation of the head is effected by flexible traction members orcables 2l (Fig. l) anchored to the head and wound in opposite directionson a cable drum 22 mounted at one end of the main base section. One ofthe cables leads directly to the head while the other cable is carriedover a yieldably supported sheave 23 located at the other end of themain base section. The cable drum is rotatably driven by a reversiblehydraulic motor enclosedin a housing 24 along with a suitable pump forsupplying pressure fluid thereto. A motor MJ drives the pump.

During its rotation and reciprocation the hon.- ing tool is expanded tofeed the abrasive elements against the surface of the work and therebyenable the elements to dress the-surface. For this purpose, theconventional honing tool is provided with cam means of well knownconstruction arranged to be actuated by an expanding element 'such as anendwise shiftable tool adjusting rod 25 (Fig. 3) extending from the toolaxially through the driver I1 and spindle I5 into the housing I4.Through the medium of springs or the like incorporated in the tool, theabrasive elements are normally held in their inner or contractedposition and the adjusting rod is yieldably urged rearwardly or into thehousing. Thus, the abrasive elements ofthe tool may be forced radiallyoutwardly against the surface of the work by shifting the adjusting rodforwardly or to the right as viewed in Fig. 3.

In order to force the abrasive elements of the tool against the workwith the relatively high and uniform pressure required in modernproduction honing, it is usually preferred to utilize a power drivenactuator for shifting the adjusting rod to hone expanding position. Ithas been the practice heretofore to mount the actuator on thereciprocatory head in a position to act directly on the adjusting rod.Since the actuator reciprocates with the head, flexible or sliding powerconnections are required to supply power to the actuator. In accordancewith the present invention, however, the actuator indicated generally at3E), is mounted on the machine base and arranged to act on the adjustingrod indirectly through novel motion transmitting means preferably in theform of a mechanical linkage 3l. The use of the exible or sliding powerconnections with the head is thus avoided.

The actuator in its preferred form comprises an elongated member oractuator bar 32 having an accurately machined straight upper edgeconstituting a control surface 33 extending longitudinally of themachine base, and adapted to coact with a traveler carried by the headI3. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the bar is disposed with thecontrol surface 33 in a horizontal plane parallel to the plane of theguideway, that is, parallel to the reciprocatory path of the head andarranged for movement in a direction transversely of said path withoutdisturbing the parallel relationship. To obtain such movement the bar 32is supported in this instance for movement in an arcuate path in avertical plane by a series of parallel motion links 34 each connected atone end with the bar by a pivot pin 35 and at the other end to themachine base Il] by a pivot pin 36. Thus, when the bar is moved so as torock the links 34 about their pivots 36, the control surface 33 ismaintained in a plane parallel to the reciprocatory path of rthe headwhile the relative spacing of the edge from that path is increased ordecreased depending upon the direction of movement of the bar.

It will be observed that the links 34 are normally inclined forwardly asshown in Figs, l and 3. Accordingly, endwise movement of the bar to theleft as viewed in Fig` 3 will operate to raise the straight edge 33while movement of the bar in the opposite direction will lower thestraight edge without, however, disturbing its parallel relationship tothe plane of the guideway.

The relative movements of the actuator bar control surface are utilizedto expand and contract the honing tool T, such movements beingtransmitted to the tool adjusting rod 25 by a traveler and the linkage3| of which the traveler forms a part. The linkage as herein showncomprises a horizontal rock shaft (Figs. 3 and 4) journaled in a bearing4| rigid with the housing i4. A nger 42 in the form of a crank arm faston the inner end of the shaft is arranged to bear against a cap 43secured to the inner end of the tool adjusting rod 25. This cap isslidably supported in suitable bearings in the housing for endwisemovement with the rod and serves to support and guide the same withinthe housing.

Fixed on the outer end of the shaft 40 is a generally horizontal crankarm 44 having its outer end bifurcated to receive one end of anadjustable link 45 which is secured thereto by a pin 46. The other endof the adjustable link is pivotally connected by a pin 41 with the freeend of a traveler carrying lever 48 which, in turn, is pivoted as at 49on a bracket 50 projecting laterally from the housing I4. The travelercarried by this lever comprises a roller 5I journaled on the outer endof the lever and arranged to engage the control surface 33 of theactuator bar as the head reciprocates on the guideway. The roller typeof traveler reduces friction and materially increases the useful life ofthe coacting parts.

With the above arrangement, the control surface 33 by its movements in avertical plane is effective to expand and contract the honing tool. Suchmovements are obtained by endwise shifting of the actuator bar to theleft or right as viewed in Fig. 3. While any suitable power actuatedmeans may be utilized for shifting the bar in this manner, pressurefluid actuated means has been found to be particularly satisfactory andhas been shown by way of illustration in the exemplary embodiment of theinvention. In its preferred form, the pressure fluid operated meanscomprises a double acting piston (Fig. l) working in a cylinder 56mounted in a horizontal position on the machine base substantially inline with the actuator bar. The piston is connected with the bar by apiston rod 51 and a link 58, the latter having one end attached to thebar by a pivot pin 59 and the other end pivotally attached by a pin to aconnecting member 6I adjustably secured to the piston rod 5'! as by anut 62 threaded onto the projecting end of the rod.

Pressure uid isy supplied to the cylinder 56 by a suitable pump P (Fig.l) herein shown as arranged to be driven by the motor M. A conventional4-way reversing valve V controls the delivery of pressure fluid to thecylinder. Thus, when the valve is set to the position shown in Fig. l,pressure fluid is directed into the right end of the cylinder therebyshifting the piston and actuator bar to the left with the result thatthe straight edge 33 of the actuator bar is moved upwardly to expand thehoning tool. With the valve set in its alternate position, pressurefluid is introduced into the left end of the cylinder to shift thepiston to the right and thus lower the actuator bar so that the honingtool can contract in the usual manner. In the particular embodimentillustrated, the valve V is arranged for operation by a solenoid SOLenergized and deenergized under control of a switch S which may beactuated in any preferred manner.

To adapt the machine for operating efficiently on various types of work,it 'is necessary at times to vary the extent to which the tool isexpanded in a full stroke of the piston 55. It is also desirable attimes to adjust the leverage ratio between the actuating means and thetool expanding means so that the tool may be expanded with the pressuremost suitable for a particular class of work. This is readilyaccomplished in the present instance by reason of the adjustablecharacter of the link 45 and the adjustable connection of the barshifting link 58 with the piston rod 5l. By suitably adjusting theeffective length of the first mentioned link and correspondinglyadjusting the latter link with respect to the piston rod, any desiredsection of the arcuate course followed by the actuator bar in therocking of the links 34 can be selected for expanding the honing tool.

The operation of the actuating mechanism under different adjustmentswill be readily seen by reference to Figs, 5.and 6 of the drawings.Thus, when a relatively small degree of expansion is desired, the linksmay be adjusted so that the actuator bar initially occupies the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 5. Upon movement of the actuator bar to theleft through a full stroke of the piston the straight edge 33 is raisedthrough a distance indicatedat A as the parallel motion links 34 rock tothe position shown in dotted lines. However, when the links 45 and 58are adjusted so that the actuator 'bar initially occupies the positionvshown in full lines in Fig. 6, movement of the bar through a stroke ofthe full length of the piston stroke serves to rock the parallel motionlinks from the position shown in full lines in this gure to the positionshown in dotted lines thereby raising the straight edge through asubstantially greater distance as indicated at A. It will be understood,of course, that adjustments may be made to utilize any selected range ofmovement of the parallel motion links from a substantially horizontalposition to a vertical position. In addition to pro-- viding a variabledegree of expansion, this adjustment may be utilized to vary the ratiowith which the pressure developed on the piston 55 is reflected in theexpansion of the honing tool.

The modied form of actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is similar ingeneral to that above described except for the adjustable mounting ofthe actuator bar 32 to enable the machine to hone tapered as well ascylindrical work. For this purpose the parallel motion links are pivotedat their lower ends on an elongated carrier 60 which in turn is pivotedas at BI on the machine Ilo-ase. Alocking bolt 62 operating in anarcuate slot 63 provides for locking the carrier in any selectedposition. In the particular mechanism illustrated, the actuator cylinder56 is also mounted on the carrier so as to maintain a xed position withrespect to the actuator bar in the various adjusted positions.

For honing cylindrical surfaces the carrier 60 is set so that thestraight edge 33 of the actuator bar is parallel to the plane of theguideway and the operation under these conditions is exactly the same asthat previously described. When a tapered surface is to be honed, thecarrier is tilted to incline the straight edge with reference to theaxis of the surface at an angle corresponding to the taper angle of thesame. Accordingly, as the tool is traversed between the largeend smallends ofthe work, the actuating lever 48 is rocked between the positionshown in solid and dotted lines in Fig. 2 thereby gradually expandingand contracting the tool as the roller 5l rides on the straight edgeofthe bar whereby the abrasive elements are maintained in operativeengagement with the surface and under substantially uniform pressurethroughout the length of the work. Forward shifting of the bar of coursetends to expand the honing tool in the manner hereinbefore explained butthe angle of inclination of the bar remains the same and the effectivediameter honing tool is 'therefore adjusted to conform to the changes inthe size of the tapered work surface.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides ahone expanding mechanism of novel and advantageous construction which isapplicable to a wide variety of honing machines. The improved mechanismavoids the use of exible or sliding power connections heretoforerequired in machines employing power actuated honing tools. It thuseliminates a source of considerable trouble and expense heretoforeattending the operations of such machines. Moreover, the mechanism maybe readily adjusted to meet a wide variety of operating conditionsincluding the honing of either cylindrical or tapered work.

I claim as my invention:

1. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a head supported forreciprocation on a guideway carried by said base, a spindle journaled insaid head adapted to carry an expansible honing tool, a tool expandingelement carried by said head, an actuator bar having a control surfacedisposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the guideway, poweractuated means stationarily supported on the machine base and operativeto shift said bar to vary the relative spacing of said parallel planeswithout disturbing their parallel relationship, and means carried by thehead including a follower roller coacting with said control surface ofthe bar for transmitting the power from said actuator to the toolexpanding element While the head is reciprocating on said guideway.

2. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a guideway on saidbase for a reciprocatory head, a spindle journaled on said head adaptedto carry an rexpansible honing tool, a tool expanding rod, an elongatedbar having a control surface parallel to the plane of the guideway,parallel motion links supporting said bar on the machine base wherebythe bar may be shifted to vary the position of said control surface withrespect to the plane of the guideway without disturbing the parallelrelationship between the surface and said plane, power actuated meansfor shifting said bar, and a mechanical linkage carried by the headincluding a follower coacting withthe control surface of the bar fortransmitting the movements of the bar to said tool adjusting rod whilethe head is reciprocating on said guideway.

3. A pressure fluid operated hone expanding mechanism for honingmachines of the type having a rotatable and reciprocable honing tool,sa-id mechanism comprising, in combination, an actuator bar extendinggenerally parallel to the reciprocatory path of the tool, stationarilysupported pressure fluid actuated means for shifting the bar in adirection transversely of said path while maintaining its parallelrelationship therewith, and means for transmitting the movements of saidbar to the tool to expand the same comprising a member reciprocable withthe tool and movable in a direction transversely of its reciprocatorypath, said member having a follower engageable with said bar during suchreciprocation.

4. A pressure fluid operated hone expanding mechanism for honingmachines of the type having a rotatable and reciprocable honing tool,said mechanism comprising, in combination, anl actuator bar extendinggenerally parallel to the reciprocatory path of the tool, stationarih7supported pressure fluid actuated means for shifting the bar in adirection transversely of said path while maintaining its parallelrelationship therewith, and means for transmitting the movements of saidbar to the tool to expand the same comprising a mechanical linkagereciprocable with the tool, said linkage including a follower coactingwith the bar while the tool is reciprocated.

5. A honing machine having, in combination,

a base, a guideway on said base for a reciprocatory head, a spindlejournaled on said head adapted to carry an expansible honing tool, atool expanding rod, an elongated bar having a control surface disposedparallel to the plane of the guideway, means supporting said bar on themachine base for movementl whereby the spacing of said surface portionmay be varied with respect to the plane of the guidevvay while theparallel relationship is maintained therebetween, power actuated meansfor moving said bar, and means carried by the head coacting with saidcontrol surface for transmitting the movements of the bar to said toolexpanding rod.

6. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a guideway on saidbase, a head reciprocable on said guideway, a spindle journaled in saidhead adapted to carry an expansible and contractible honing tool, a toolexpanding rod extending through said spindle, means for shifting thetool expanding rod to expand the tool including a member supported onthe base for limited bodily movement in a direction transversely of thereciprocatory path of the head, a stationary power actuator for movingsaid member, and means reciprocable with the head coacting with saidmember to transfer the movements of the member to the tool expandingrod.

7. The combination. in a honing machine having a frame supporting areciprocatory expansible honing tool, of means supported on the frameproviding a control surface parallel to the reciprocatory path of thetool, means providing an operative connection between said controlsurface and the tool including a traveler reciprocable with the tool andadapted to coact with said control surface in said reciprocation, andpower actuated means stationarily mounted on the frame for shifting saidcontrol surface in a direction toward or from said path whilemaintaining said parallel relationship between the control surface andthe path, said control surface acting through said traveler to controlthe expansion of the tool in accordance with the position of thesurface.

8. The combination with a reciprocatory honing too-l, of means forexpanding the tool including a cylinder, a piston having a xed range ofmovement in said cylinder, means for supplying pressure fluid to thecylinder to move the piston through said fixed range, and a linkageinterposed between said piston and the honing tool operative to effectexpansion of the tool throughout the movement of the piston through saidiixed range, said linkage being adjustable to vary the degree of toolexpansion produced by movement of the piston through said xed range.

9. A hone expanding mechanism for honing machines of the type having arotatable and reciprocable honing tool, said mechanism comprising, incombination, an actuator bar having a control surface extendinggenerally parallel to the reciprocatory path of the tool, meanssupporting said bar for'bodily movement in an arcucate course in whichthe parallel relationship between the control surface and said path ismaintained at all times, stationarily supported power actuated means formoving said bar, a mechanical linkage reciprocable with the toolincluding a part coacting with said control surface operative totransmit the movements of the bar to the tool for Vexpanding the tool,said linkage and said power actuated means being adjustable to conditionthe bar for expanding the tool in moving through any selected portion ofits course.

10. A honing machiney having, in combination, a base, a head supportedfor reciprocation on said base, a spindle journaled in said head adaptedto carry an expansible honing tool, a tool expanding member carried bysaid head, an

actuator bar having a control surface extending substantially the lengthof the guideway and generally parallel thereto, a mechanical linkagecarried by the head including a traveler coacting with said controlsurface for operatively connecting the bar with the tool expandingmember, a plurality of parallel motion links supporting said bar on themachine base for bodily movement in an arcuate path whereby the controlsurface of the bar acts through said linkage to expand the tool, andmeans for adjusting said linkage to render the bar effective forexpanding the tool in moving through any selected section of its arcuatepath.

11. A hone expanding mechanism for honing machines of the type having arotatable and reciprocable honing tool, said mechanism comprising, incombination, an actuator bar extending generally parallel to thereciprocatory path of the tool, means supporting said bar for bodilymovement in an arcuate course in which the parallel relationship betweenthe bar and said path is maintained at all times, stationarily supportedpower actuated means for moving said bar, means for transmitting themovements of the bar to the tool to expand the same including, a pair ofrocking members reciprocable with the tool, one of said members `beingoperatively connected with the tool and the other having a part coactingwith said bar, and a link connecting said members, said link beingadjustable to vary the initial position of said part with respect tosaid bar.

12. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a head supportedfor reciprocation on said base, a spindle journaled in said head adaptedto carry an expansible honing tool, a tool expanding member carried bysaid head, an actuator bar having a control surface extendingsubstantially the length of the guideway, power actuated means forshifting said bar so as to move the control surface in a directiontransversely of the reciprocatory path of the head, means carried by thehead including a traveler coacting with the control surface of the barfor transmitting the movements of the `bar to said tool expandingmember, and means for varying the angular position of the controlsurface 'of the bar with respect to the reciprocatory path of the headto condition the machine for honing either cylindrical or tapered bores.

13. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a head supportedlfor reciprocation on said base, a spindle journaled in said head adaptedto carry an expansible honing tool, a tool expanding element carried bysaid head, an actuator bar having a control surface extendingsubstantially the length of the guideway, power actuated means forshifting said bar to move the control surface in a directiontransversely of the reciprocatory path of the head, means carried by thehead including a traveler coacting With the control surface fortransmitting the movements of the bar to said tool expanding member, andadjusting means for setting said bar with the control surface inclinedto the reciprocatory path of the head at an angle corresponding to thetaper angle of the bore to be honed.

14. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a head supportedfor reciprocation on said base, means on the head for supporting anexpansibile and contractible honing tool, a shiftable tool expandingelement carried by the head, means for shifting said element to expandthe tool including a carrier mounted on the base, an actuator barsupported on said carrier for movement in a direction transversely ofthe reciprocatory path of the head, power actuated means on saidcarri-er for moving said bar, and a mechanical linkage carried by thehead including a part coacting with said actuator bar for transmittingthe movements of the bar to the tool expanding member, said carrierbeing shiftable to adjust the angular relationship of the bar Withrespect to the reciprocatory path of the head and thereby progressivelyvary the degree of expansion of the tool during the reciprocation of thehead.

15. A honing machine having, in combination, a base, a head supportedfor reciprocation on said base, means on the head for supporting anexpansible and contractible honing tool, a shiftable tool expandingelement carried by the head, means for shifting said element to expandthe tool including a carrier mounted on the base, an actuator barsupported on said carrier for movement in a direction transversely ofthe reciprocatory path of the head, a member on said head adapted toengage said actuator bar and to follow the movements of the bar Whilethe head is reciprocating, means operatively connecting said member Withthe tool expanding element, and means for adjusting said carried to Varythe degree of movement imparted to said element in different portions ofthe reciprocatory path of the head.

16. A machine for honing tapered bores having, in combination, a base, ahead supported for reciprocation on said base, means on the head forsupporting an expansible and contractible abrasive tool, means forvariably expanding the tool to maintain the same in operative engagementwith the Walls of the bore as the tool is traversed axially thereof byAreciprocation of the head, said expanding means comprising a shiftabletool expanding element carried by the head, means defining a controlsurface portion inclined with respect to the axis of the bore at anangle corresponding to the taper angle of the bore, power actuated meansfor shifting said control surface in a direction transversely of theaxis of the bore While maintaining the same angular position relativethereto, and means carried by the head coacting with said controlsurface for transmitting the movements of the surface to said toolactuating elements.

HARRY J. CALDWELL.

